Château Lafite Rothschild - Pauillac 2006

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/31/2016

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London and then blind at Farr Vintners tasting. The 2006 Château Lafite-Rothschild offers impressive fruit intensity on the nose, although it does not have the precision of the 2006 Mouton-Rothschild. Red berry fruits intermingle with rose petals and sous-bois scents - very typical Lafite bouquet where less can be more. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and a keen line of acidity. It is certainly very well balanced with graphite-tinged black fruit, but whereas Mouton-Rothschild possesses that peacock's tail, Lafite remains linear. Nevertheless, the sophistication really comes through here. It is a Lafite-Rothschild that may spring a few surprises down the line, one of those wines that keeps drawing you back. Understated class. Tasted April 2016.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe10/27/2010

Fresh nose, pretty light and ethereal. Not immediately first-growth quality. Pretty light and racy. There is some complexity but not much weight. Fairly soft. Drink 2013-2025.

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

the3/31/2009

Plum, sweet tobacco and blackberry aromas follow through to a full body, offering a tight, chewy palate, yet with polished, refined tannins. Very long and caressing. This turns to a muscular and toned young wine. Gets better and better with age. Best after 2014. 23,330 cases made. –JS

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/1/2009

One of the fabulous surprises, although I had suggested last year that it could jump in quality, of my tastings, the 2006 Lafite Rothschild is a great, great wine made from a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. When I tasted it from barrel, it reminded me of their successful 1988, but it is dramatically superior to that vintage. Frankly, it may turn out to be as good as the 2005, which in all of Bordeaux is a far greater vintage than 2006. Lafite’s severe selection process (42% made it into the grand vin) resulted in a full-bodied wine boasting an extraordinary perfume of charcoal, truffles, lead pencil shavings, and sensationally sweet, ripe black currant and cedar notes. A wine of extraordinary intensity, texture, and depth with silky tannins as well as awesome concentration, this has turned out to be a remarkable Lafite Rothschild that should be drinkable much earlier than the 2005, but age for three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2035+.

La Revue du Vin de France

18-19 / 20

the7/6/2007

Il possède une nez strict, racé, précis. La bouche est très précise, avec un beau fruit, mais offre à ce stade moins de densité que Mouton ou Latour. Milieu de bouche suave, avec une belle race mais un petit creux. Très belle finale.

Decanter Magazine

19 / 20

the6/30/2007

Velvet black-red, really lovely nose of cassis and violets, terrific depth of fruit, both racy and opulent, with very firm tannins that make it a true vin de garde. Truly classic, very fine indeed.

Le Point

18,5-19 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/24/2007

Violette, menthe, réglisse, bonne prise de bouche juteuse, ronde, tannins très fins qui s'tirent lentement. Un vin sérieux et délicat, raffinée et très construit, grande classe.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/7/2007

2020-2050. Tiefes, fast schwarzes Granat-Violett. Komplexes, schwarzbeeriges Bouquet, dezente, parfümierte Würze, ein Hauch Kandis, Cakefrüchte, Minzespuren, Black Currant, Rauch, Leder, Trüffel, irgendwie an einen Harlan-Estate erinnernd, also mit einer Affinität zu einem ganz grossen Napa-Cabernet. Grosser Gaumenauftritt, Cabernet-Spuren ausschliesslich mit schwarzbeeriger Frucht bestückt, wieder eine dramatische Tiefe zeigend, vielschichtige, grossartige Adstringenz, schwarze Kakaobohnen, Korinthen, viel Lakritze, Gerbstoffe (noch) etwas trocken, vielleicht auch etwas hart anmutend, dem beruhigenden Wein her ein gigantisches Alterungspotenzial verleihend. Kein besonders feiner, eher ein sehr reservierter Pauillac. Und noch selten war ein Lafite einem Latour vom Geschmack her so nahe.

Falstaff

91-93 / 100

the5/3/2007

Tiefes Rubingranat, schwarzer Kern, violette Reflexe. In der Nase zart tabakig unterlegtes dunkles Beerenkonfit, noch sehr verschlossenes Bukett, etwas Bitterschoko. Am Gaumen sehr monolithisch, feine Cassisanklänge, frische Säurestruktur, die Tannine bilden einen mauerartigen Block, der Wein wirkt komplex, gleichzeitig sehr abweisend, ist von einer Strenge geprägt, die eher an Latour erinnert, zarte Röstaromen im Nachhall, braucht sicher viel Zeit, hat aber ein sehr gutes Reifepotenzial. Im Moment im Finish noch etwas austrocknend. 91-93+

Wine Advocate

91-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/3/2007

Lafite’s Merlot harvest occurred between September 15-22, and the Cabernet Sauvignon from September 27 until the end of the first week of October. Only 42% of the production made it into the grand vin (a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot). The 2006 is a tannic, restrained effort that brings to mind the 1988. A deep ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of graphite, creme de cassis, spice, and subtle wood. Medium-bodied and richly fruity with decent acidity and a long finish, it will require 8-10 years of cellaring, and should keep for 4-5 decades.

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2007

Tasted at the château. A deep, almost opaque garnet core. The nose is extremely backward and stubbornly refuses to reveal its personality until five minutes of swirling. Then some ripe, pure blackberry and a touch of graphite and liquorish emerges. The palate is impenetrable at first, a mass of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon barring entry, but you can discern a bewitching symmetry and delineation. Not a flamboyant Lafite, one that I think will take 3 or 4-years to blossom. But it will.

TAST

18.50 / 20

the4/30/2007

Puissant, raffiné, doté de son légendaire bouquet de cèdre, semble un peu moins défini à ce stade que ses pairs mais les échantillons étaient servis un peu chaud, ce qui ne nous permet pas un jugement aussi précis qu’on le souhaiterait. Délicieux Carruades, très souple, soyeux, subtil, parmi les plus accomplis de ces dernières années (16/20).

Vinum

17.50 / 20

the4/30/2007

Von grosser Rasse, Dichte und Länge, robustes, herbes Tannin, langes, pfeffriges Finale - die Noblesse ist da, doch 2006 scheint nicht zu den ganz grossen Lafite-Jahren zu zählen. 2016 bis 2030

Wine Enthusiast

95-97 / 100

the4/15/2007

The fruit here is so rich, so juicy that it seems almost ready to drink now. That is until the tannins kick in. They power down on those delicious fruits, giving them a burst of structure, new wood and spice. Then the fruit reasserts itself, with delicious juiciness to finish. —R.V.

Jancis Robinson

18.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/12/2007

Less blue than Duhart with mid concentration. Very healthy opulent concentrated crimson. A particular spice to this vintage on the nose. Crisp and racy and beautifully balanced on the palate – possibly the most complete wine so far. Just caresses the palate and only on the finish shows you quite how much (notably ripe) tannin there is underneath. Remarkably compact. Lovely freshness without any greenness or angularity.

Wine Spectator

92-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/29/2007

Racy and long, with beautiful blackberry and light coffee character and a licorice undertone. Full and racy, with a long, long finish. Structured and powerful, yet builds on the palate. Close to 95-100.